Learn how to make Instant Pot chicken stock from leftover chicken bones, vegetable scraps, garlic, and fresh herbs! Homemade chicken stock is beyond easy to prepare, nutritious, and so versatile.
Just like our Instant Pot vegetable stock and bone broth recipes, this Instant Pot chicken stock is so easy to make, and can be used up in many different recipes!
Instant Pot chicken stock is a staple recipe to try next time you have some scrap chicken bones and veggies to use up. Not only is it filled with nutrients and so much more delicious than store-bought stock - but it can also be used up in so many recipes!
Best of all, this recipe is so easy to make (the Instant Pot does all the hard work) and it is freezer friendly. This Instant Pot chicken stock is low carb and gluten-free.
Reasons you'll ♡ this recipe
- it's a great way to use up a chicken carcass and make use of veggie scraps
- no need to watch a pot boiling on the stove- dump the ingredients into the Instant Pot and let it do all the work for you
- it stores great for meal prep in the fridge or freezer
Recipe Video
Watch the video below to see how to make Instant Pot chicken stock! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.
Ingredient notes
Chicken stock is extremely flexible, and great to use up what you might have leftover in the fridge. With that being said, there are some basics you'll require:
- Chicken bones - use leftover chicken bones or a whole leftover chicken carcass; we used 1.5 lbs/ 750 g of chicken bones in the photos above. Note: you can store chicken bones, skin, cartilage and scraps in the freezer in a sealed freezer bag for up to a year before making chicken stock!
- Herbs - for this batch of chicken stock we used rosemary and thyme, but parsley and sage also taste great in homemade chicken stock
- Veggie scraps - you can use carrot peels, celery leaves, fresh herbs, onion skins (make sure dirt is removed), and any other vegetable leftovers you have!
Step by step directions
Combine
In the stainless steel insert of a 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot, combine the chicken bones, celery, carrots, onions, garlic, fresh herbs, sea salt and water. Add in additional vegetable scraps if using.
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Cook
Place the lid on the Instant Pot, set the valve to the 'sealing' position, and pressure cook on high for 30 minutes. When the cooking cycle has completed, allow for a full natural pressure release (this might take up to 1 hour; if you are in a rush, allow for a 20 minute natural release before carefully releasing the remaining pressure).
Strain
Strain off solids and collect stock in a large bowl or measuring cup. Store stock in mason jars or soup storage containers. Use in soups or as a cooking liquid.
Optional Ingredients for Extra Flavor
- add 2- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- sautée veggies before pressure cooking
- add 1 -2 teaspoons of turmeric powder, or 1 inch fresh turmeric root
- bay leaf
- add 2 tablespoons of miso paste for umami flavor
- add 1-2 sheets of kombu for umami flavor
FAQ
Chicken stock is typically made by simmering the bones with mirepoix (celery, onion and carrot) whereas broth is simply any liquid that meat has been cooked in. Read more about it here.
Yes, chicken stock cooks up really nicely in the slow cooker. Simmer on low for 6-8 hours.
Yes, you can! Instead of pressure cooking, simmer the broth for 2 hours, then complete directions as written in this recipe.
Yes, absolutely! See how to make turkey stock for more specifics.
How To Use It Up
- cooking liquid - works great as a cooking liquid for rice (see how to cook rice) or quinoa (see how to cook perfect, fluffy quinoa) to add extra flavor
- in soups - chicken stock tastes better than store bought and makes the perfect base for this leftover turkey soup or this stuffed pepper soup
- freezer meals - chicken stock works well in any recipe that calls for chicken or vegetable stock. Ex: these Instant Pot chipotle lime chicken breasts and this Instant Pot honey sesame chicken
Storage
- Fridge - store in an airtight container the fridge for up to 4 days
- Freezer - store in jars (see tips below for freezing in jars) or freezer containers. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Tips for Freezing In Jars
Here are a few tips for freezing black beans in mason jars to avoid the jars breaking:
- Make sure to select canning jars; repurposed pasta sauce or food jars are not designed to withstand dramatic temperature shifts and can break.
- Avoid jars that have 'shoulders' and taper in at the top, as they are more prone to breaking
- Leave an inch from the top of the jar empty to account for expansion when freezing
- Leave the lids ajar until the beans are frozen solid- at this point, you can secure them!
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Instant Pot Chicken Stock (so easy)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs chicken bones 26 oz; 750 g; see note 1
- 4 celery stalks coarsely chopped
- 3 carrots coarsely chopped
- 1-2 onions quartered
- 4 cloves garlic whole or minced
- 1 handful fresh herbs see note 2
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 8 cups water
- other vegetable scraps see note 3
Instructions
- Combine- In the stainless steel insert of a 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot, combine the chicken bones, celery, carrots, onions, garlic, fresh herbs, sea salt and water. Add in additional vegetable scraps if using.
- Cook- Place the lid on the Instant Pot, set the valve to the 'sealing' position, and pressure cook on high for 30 minutes. When the cooking cycle has completed, allow for a full natural pressure release.
- Strain- Strain off solids and collect stock in a large bowl or measuring cup. Store in mason jars or soup storage containers. Use in soups or as a cooking liquid.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Tips:
- store chicken bones, skin, cartilage and scraps from in a freezer bag for up to a year before making stock.
- 2 sprigs rosemary and 8-10 sprigs thyme were added in photos; a handful of parsley and 8-10 sage leaves are also great
- add carrot peels, celery leaves, fresh herbs, onion skins, and any other vegetable leftovers you have.
- Fridge - store in an airtight container the fridge for up to 4 days
- Freezer - store in jars (see tips below for freezing in jars) or freezer containers. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Video
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